Goldenville Goldmine Interpretive Centre
 Gold Mining in Nova Scotia
Canadian hard-rock mining began in Nova Scotia in 1860 - first in Tangier and, in 1861 at Wine Harbour and the Sherbrooke Gold District (Goldenville). Over the next few years mines were opened along a narrow geological belt from Seal Harbour in the East to Molega (Queen’s County) in the West. Almost all of these mining operations were on or near the Marine Drive along the Eastern Shore: Seal Harbour, Goldboro, Forest Hill, Country Harbour Mines, Wine Harbour, Cochrane Hill, Goldenville, Lochaber Mines, 15 Mile, Moose River, Caribou, Montague, Oldham, Waverly.
For 80 years (1860's to 1940's) these mines were at the centre of bustling, prosperous communities. Most of the communities have shrunk to a few families and some, (Cochrane Hill, Forest Hill, 15 Mile) have disappeared.
Still, the magic and excitement of GOLD persists! Heritage Goldenville members have visited gold mining restorations in California (the Great Gold Rush Trail of ‘49 - remembering the Great Gold Rush of 1849 - which passes through some 50 mining communities on its 300 mile/500 kilometer route), Barkerville in the British Columbia Cariboo Country and, of course, Dawson City in the Klondyke.
After these visits there can be no doubt about the popularity of mining restorations. The key word is . . . GOLD!!
The Heritage Goldenville Society Project
The Heritage Goldenville Society (HGS) is, first of all, dedicated to the development of the Goldenville gold-mining heritage as,
(1) a visitor attraction complementing the Sherbrooke Village Restoration and also, very importantly,
(2) part of an educational experience reminding Nova Scotians, and others, young and old, of the rich heritage and extensive gold-mining heritage. A heritage which envelopes and brings to living memory mining, community, families, and a bygone way of life for a small but historically important metropolitan community which was pivotal in this part of the province.
In this regard, we see the Heritage Goldenville Centre as the focus for a much wider endeavour, namely the creation of a NOVA SCOTIA GOLD MINING TRAIL extending form Halifax/Dartmouth to Seal Harbour and anchored on the Marine Drive. Once established, there could be “mini trails” such as Halifax/Dartmouth - Waverly - Oldham - Montague; or Halifax/Dartmouth - Tangier - Moose River - Caribou; or Antigonish/New Glasgow - Cochrane Hill - Goldenville - Wine Harbour - Bickerton Lighthouse - Country Harbour Mines - Goldboro - Seal Harbour... There could be many variations along the Marine Drive route.
Nova Scotia Gold Mining Facts
DISTRICT OPERATED OZS. GOLD
1. Seal Harbour 1983-1944 91,322
2. Goldboro 1862-1949 39,654
3. Forest Hill 1895-1935 25,102
4. Wine Harbour 1861-1939 42,726
5. Cochrane Hill 1888-1928 1,192
6. Goldenville 1861-1942 210,152
7. Lochaber Mine ? ?
8. 15 Mile Stream 1883-1911 19,740
9. Moose River 1870-1937 25,984
10. Cariboo 1869-1945 91,381
11. Montague 1863-1938 69,139
12. Oldham 1862-1938 82,295
13. Waverly 1852-1938 73,353
14. Tangier 1861-1919 26,078
TOTAL 800,168
800,168 (@ $525 x CDN/ounce represents about $420,088,200)
($420 million dollars!!)
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Heritage Goldenville Society
 In 1996 the Society was established as a voluntary non-profit association “to preserve the heritage of Goldenville and present it to the public”, to establish, maintain, and manage a museum dedicated to presenting a complete mining, church and community history together with memorabilia and displays designed to “bring to life” the significant events of the past by use of displays and interpreters in a period setting. Additionally, the Society will promote and enhance tourism along the Easter Shore’s Route 7 adjacent to Sherbrooke Village.
Society Membership
The Heritage Goldenville Society is seeking new members, new ideas and suggestions as well as old photographs, family stories, family histories, mining artifacts, and other assistance. Your help will be appreciated.
For Those Who Like Numbers
In the 11 years (1861-1872) Goldenville produced 62,000 ounces of FINE GOLD from about 60,000 tons of ore crushed. The rough rule was: 10 tons of waste rock for one tone of crushable ore. Thus some 600,000 tons of waste rock had to be mined-out during these years. For the 80 years production of 210,000 ounces of gold, the total removal of waste rock would have been about two million tons. Hence the appearance of huge mounds of waste rock “dumps” throughout the community.
GOLDENVILLE - From a peak population of about 1,000 in 1870, over 80 years (1861 - 1942) Goldenville produced some 210,000 ounces of fine gold.
DAWSON CITY/KLONDYKE - With a population of about 25,000 in 1900, produced some 1,350,000 ounces of gold in that one year!
Address: Old Presbyterian Church Goldenville
Phone: 1-902-522-2653
E-mail: Goldenville@yahoo.ca summer season, or grantmacdonald@ns.sympatico.ca
Season: June 1 – October 15
Admission: By Donation
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Created on 2005-10-24 10:35:15 by admin
Updated on 2006-03-30 12:14:36 by admin
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